Garage Door Design Guide for Homeowners

When choosing a garage door for your home, there are many styles and designs to consider. Most homes only go through one or two garage doors per resident, so you want to choose something that looks good and matches the look of your house. You also want to think about the material the door is made from, what type of insulation you want it to provide, how it will hold up in your climate, and most importantly, how much you want to spend. This design guide from ASAP garage doors should help homeowners start with the search for the perfect garage door.

Choosing the Right Style

Your garage door likely takes up a large portion of the front or side of your home, so it can make or break your curb appeal. Choosing a look that blends with the rest of the house is important, especially if you plan to resale down the road. Homeowners typically have three main styles to choose from. If you are going for an old-fashioned look, you may choose a carriage-style door that resemble the entrance to a rustic old barn. For a modern home, you may opt for something sleek, functional, and contemporary. Traditional panel doors offer a classic look that fits with almost any style home.

Materials and Colors

Once upon a time, garage doors came in limited colors, but today you can choose from thousands of paint and stain shades to complement your home's color scheme. The material you choose made play a role in the color decision, as well.

Wood doors tend to be popular, because of the beauty and charm wooden styles add to your home. However, wood does fade in the sunlight and can warp in extreme conditions, plus you will need to repaint it every few years. True wood doors may be on the higher end when it comes to cost. Wood composite doors are also available, and while they are affordable, they do not often last long.

Steel doors tend to be lower-maintenance and more durable, standing up to rust and dents. For this reason, steel doors make the most economic sense and tend to be the most common choice. If you live in an area that sees extreme heat or cold, layered steel doors also tend to offer more insulation and soundproofing, but they can be costly.

Fiberglass doors with aluminum frames are a third option. They tend to be lightweight but they do not insulate your garage or home at all. They can also break easily. Fiberglass doors tend to be most popular in coastal areas because the salt air does not affect them.

Setting a Budget

If you are like most homeowners, the door you choose will be most affected by your budget. A general rule of thumb is to spend no more than 1% of your home's value on the door. If you plan to stay in the home a while or resale it later, you want something that will stand the test of time and look as good five or ten years from now as it does when you buy it.

Disclaimer: This site does not provide medical or legal advice. This website is intended for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Statements made on this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and any information or products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or illness. We make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, validity, timeliness or suitability of the information contained on this web site for any purpose.